Apparatus for mixing liquids and/or solids with liquids

Abstract

A mixing apparatus has a shaft, at least one arm radiating outwardly of the shaft, and a mixing element affixed to the arm away from the shaft. The mixing element has a generally frustoconical member with a wide opening at an end thereof and a narrow opening at an opposite end thereof. The mixing element also includes a throat section of a generally constant diameter connected to the narrow opening of the frustoconical member and a diffuser section having an end affixed to an end of the throat section opposite the frustoconical member. The mixing elements have a longitudinal axis extending at an acute angle to horizontal. A motor is cooperative with the shaft so as to rotate the shaft. Each of the mixing elements includes a Venturi.

We claim: 
     
       1. A mixing apparatus comprising:
 a shaft; 
 at least one arm radiating outwardly of said shaft; 
 a mixing element affixed to said arm away from said shaft, said mixing element having a generally frustoconical interior having a wide opening at one end thereof and a narrow opening at an opposite end thereof, said mixing element further comprising:
 a throat section connected to said narrow end of said frustoconical interior, said throat section having an inner wall; and 
 a diffuser section having an end connected to an end of said throat section opposite said frustoconical interior, said diffuser section having an opposite end having an interior diameter greater than an interior diameter of said throat section, said diffuser section having an inner wall continuous of said inner wall of said throat section, said opposite end of said diffuser section having a plurality of cutouts formed therein in spaced relation to each other. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , each of said plurality of cutouts having a scallop shape. 
     
     
       3. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said plurality of cutouts comprising between four cutouts and eight cutouts, each of said cutouts having an open end opening at an edge of the diffuser section. 
     
     
       4. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said throat section having a constant diameter. 
     
     
       5. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said wide opening of said interior having a diameter greater than a diameter of said opposite end of said diffuser section. 
     
     
       6. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said shaft extending in a vertical orientation, said at least one arm extending in a horizontal orientation. 
     
     
       7. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said mixing element being angularly adjustably mounted at an end of the arm. 
     
     
       8. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said mixing element having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending at an angle of between 0° and 35° to horizontal. 
     
     
       9. The mixing apparatus of  claim 8 , said longitudinal axis of said mixing element extending at 25° to horizontal. 
     
     
       10. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tank having an interior volume, said shaft extending vertically within said interior volume. 
 
     
     
       11. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said at least one arm comprising three arms extending in evenly spaced relationship to each other, said mixing element comprising three mixing elements respectively mounted to an end of said three arms opposite said shaft. 
     
     
       12. The mixing apparatus of  claim 1 , said mixing element comprising a Venturi.